Sun Belt media day report

Turner's request gets OK

NEW ORLEANS -- Arkansas State linebacker A.J. Turner has cleared one hurdle in his quest to gain eligibility for the 2014 season, but more remain for the transfer from the University of Arkansas.

ASU Coach Blake Anderson said Tuesday that Turner's request for a waiver from the NCAA was granted Friday, meaning the Lepanto native does not have to sit out this season because of transfer rules. Typically, players who transfer from one FBS school to another have to sit out one year before playing.

Turner still has to clear an academic hurdle, Anderson said. He is enrolled in two classes this summer, the results of which will decide if he is academically eligible for this season.

"He's working on that now," Anderson said. "We'll know that here in a couple of weeks. He's in summer school and battling away. It's on him."

Turner, 6-2, 210 pounds, signed with Arkansas out of East Poinsett County in 2012 and played linebacker for the Razorbacks as a true freshman. He made 53 tackles, started the final six games and was named to the SEC's all-freshman team.

Turner redshirted last season after breaking his wrist and transferred to ASU in January in time for spring practice.

Anderson said Turner, who has three years of eligibility remaining, has the ability to play both linebacker spots. Kyle Coleman started 11 games at weakside linebacker last season but transferred to Arkansas-Pine Bluff, where his father is the coach. Sophomore Xavier Woodson returns after starting two games last season, including the GoDaddy Bowl.

"He really has the versatility to play the [middle] or the [weakside]," Anderson said. "He would be in the role there in the two-deep if he takes care of his business in the classroom and gets on the field. He'll definitely help us."

Mum on Missouri

Arkansas State Athletic Director Terry Mohajir has yet to make up his mind on where ASU will play Missouri in 2015 and reiterated Tuesday that he won't set a timetable for it.

ASU and Missouri are scheduled to play Sept. 12, 2015, at Centennial Bank Stadium in Jonesboro, but Mohajir has an offer from the St. Louis Cardinals and the St. Louis Sports Commission to play the game at Busch Stadium. Mohajir hasn't revealed the amount St. Louis is willing to pay, saying he has signed a confidentiality agreement, but he said it is more than the $1.3 million ASU is getting to play USC the same season. A source with knowledge of the discussions told the Democrat-Gazette that the figure is between $1.5 million and $2 million.

Rough start (again)

Paul Petrino's first season as Idaho's head coach had few positives in the midst of a 1-11 finish.

His second season hasn't started much better.

Petrino, who spent three seasons as Arkansas' offensive coordinator under his brother Bobby, announced Tuesday that he has dismissed wide receiver Dezmon Epps for a violation of team rules.

Epps is featured in the Sun Belt media guide as a "Vandal to watch" after catching 79 passes for 980 yards as a junior last season.

The Lewiston (Idaho) Tribune reported Monday that Epps was charged with petty theft for stealing groceries.

"I think if there's one position on the team that has the most depth and most talent, it's receiver, so we'll probably be OK," Petrino said. "That's one position that we have a lot of talent."

A new home

John Thompson was without a job following Arkansas State's victory over Ball State in the GoDaddy Bowl in January.

After spending the past two seasons as Red Wolves' defensive coordinator, he wasn't retained after Blake Anderson was hired as the Red Wolves' coach.

Thompson didn't stay unemployed long, nor did it take much time to get acclimated to his new Texas State players and fellow coaches.

Texas State Coach Dennis Franchione hired Thompson as his defensive coordinator in March, about a week before spring practice, and Franchione said Tuesday that Thompson has fit in well with a group that was already running a 4-2-5 scheme similar to what he coached at ASU.

"It was really fun to watch him in spring practice because our players embraced him very quickly," Franchione said. "John has some magical touch about him. ... They gravitate to him. It was really, for an old ball coach, it was fun to watch him coach his guys and see them get better at spring practice."

Jags a contender

When Joey Jones first came to Sun Belt media days, he wasn't the most popular of attractions.

"I think there were about three reporters here," said Jones, who is in his sixth season as South Alabama's coach.

Jones' table was surrounded Tuesday by reporters wanting to pepper him with questions about his Jaguars team that returns 15 starters and is picked to finish third in the Sun Belt by league coaches.

South Alabama was picked seventh out of eight teams in the preseason last year and started the season 3-6. But it finished 2013 with three consecutive victories, including one over co-Sun Belt champion Louisiana-Lafayette, and expectations appear to be higher than ever.

"It's amazing what three weeks can do," Jones said. "We've got a long way to go, but we're at the point where we can compete for championships."

Sports on 07/23/2014

Upcoming Events